ANDERSON, Ind. — A Central Indiana victim advocate is one of many in the state who are working to fight a bill that would allow domestic violence victims to arm themselves after obtaining a protective order.

Mary Jo Lee, CEO of area social service non profit Alternatives Inc., said there’s a reason why she and several other professionals associated with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence have fought against Indiana House Bill 1071, which passed on to the Senate.

“It is about power and control. With a protective order, you are taking away some of that perpetrator’s control. They feel threatened,” she said. “Having a handgun in that home at that time, it is absolutely worst thing you can do.”

If the bill becomes a law, HB 1071 would allow people to carry a handgun, without a license, within 60 days of obtaining the protective order against someone. Victims would also be able to carry a gun without a license for 60 days after applying for a license, if the application date was within 60 days of obtaining a protective order.

Though somewhat different, a number of states have laws in place to keep firearms out of the hands of abusers who may retaliate against their domestic violence victims.

Aside from the alleged abuser gaining access to the gun, Lee said she is concerned because the victims obtaining guns with a protective order would not have to have any training, a permit or a background check.

About 71 percent of domestic violence fatalities were from firearms, Lee said.

A recent incident in LaPorte County, Indiana, shows just what can happen when a domestic violence victim is armed, Lee said.

David Lane, 43, was arrested on suspicion of Level 1 felony attempted murder, Level 2 felony burglary, Level 3 felony robbery and Level 5 felony domestic battery after attacking his estranged wife. The woman was staying at her parents’ house when Lane broke into the garage.

While attacking the woman, Lane grabbed the woman’s .40-caliber handgun, according to the South Bend, Indiana Tribune. He reportedly held the gun to the woman’s head and pulled the trigger repeatedly, but the gun misfired.

“It did not fire or she would be dead,” Lee said. “This is exactly what we are afraid of.”

Lee said the victims aren’t the only ones in danger when a gun is introduced to a domestic violence situation. In 2013, Indianapolis police officer Rod Bradway was shot and killed by an abuser when Bradway forced his way into a home to save a woman who had been held at gunpoint for three hours.

In Lee’s experience, many victims don’t want a firearm in the home, even if it is intended for the victim’s protection.

“We hear from victims we work with, they are very fearful of a gun being in the home.” Lee said.

“They honestly don’t want a gun in the home. The chances are, they recognize, is it is going to be used against them.”

Filchak writes for the Anderson, Indiana Herald Bulletin.

Indiana House Bill 1071, authored by Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, would allow people protected by a protection order to carry a handgun without a license for: 60 days after the date the protection order is issued or 60 days after the date the person applies for a license to carry a handgun, if the person applies for the license during the 60-day period following issuance of the protection order.